Is the Xiaomi Pad 6 Wifi 8/256GB the ultimate tablet to acquire within the SGD 500 price range in Singapore?
Xiaomi boasts about revitalizing the tablet industry with the launch of its Xiaomi Pad 5 last year. Although the Pad 5 received favorable reviews, it wasn’t without its flaws, including a notable “black crush” issue reported by users. Now, the question arises: Does the Xiaomi Pad 6, its successor, address these concerns and deliver a truly gratifying experience? Let’s delve into the details to find out.
Design and Display:
The Xiaomi Pad 6 flaunts an elegant and premium design, featuring a matte metal finish on its back and sides. It is available in two sophisticated color options: Champagne and Grey. Weighing a mere 490 grams, it is lighter than its predecessor, making it effortlessly manageable for extended periods, especially when enjoying on-the-go entertainment.
While the overall aesthetic remains similar to its predecessor, the Xiaomi Pad 6 introduces subtle improvements. The pogo pins, used for keyboard attachment, have been relocated to the back, and the front camera has been cleverly positioned along the long edge of the device, making landscape-oriented video calls more convenient. The rear camera module now adopts a square shape, housing a single 13MP camera and an LED flash. Furthermore, the tablet boasts slimmer bezels around its 11-inch display, resulting in a slightly more compact form factor.
Speaking of the display, the Xiaomi Pad 6 surpasses its predecessor with several enhancements. It boasts a sharper resolution of 2,880 x 1,800 pixels, an impressively high refresh rate of 144Hz (a rarity within this price range), and improved brightness of 550 nits. Although it utilizes an LCD panel instead of an AMOLED display, the screen delivers ample brightness and supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision, elevating the visual experience. Notably, the previously reported “black crush” issue is absent in the Xiaomi Pad 6.
Performance and Software:
Powering the Xiaomi Pad 6 is the Snapdragon 870 chipset, which, despite being two years old, ensures smooth performance for light usage scenarios such as streaming content, checking emails, and browsing social media apps. The tablet is also capable of handling light gaming, although occasional lag and stuttering may be observed. With 6GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, the device provides ample space for apps and files.
Running on MIUI 14, based on Android 13, the Xiaomi Pad 6 offers a clean and streamlined software experience, free from unnecessary bloatware. While certain apps may appear enlarged on the tablet’s screen, overall optimization for tablet usage guarantees commendable performance. Xiaomi’s MIUI also incorporates productivity features like floating windows, enabling efficient multitasking, and the tablet can be easily connected to other devices via Bluetooth or HDMI for convenient screen mirroring.
Pencil and Keyboard:
Xiaomi provides an optional 2nd generation Smart Pen at SGD99, which can be purchased separately and functions via Bluetooth connectivity. The pen magnetically attaches to the side of the tablet, ensuring both charging and storage convenience. Interestingly, the Smart Pen 2 is backward compatible with the Xiaomi Pad 5. Additionally, the tablet supports an optional keyboard cover at SGD129, featuring well-spaced keys and decent travel, offering a functional typing experience. Although the keyboard lacks a trackpad and may not boast the same premium finishing as certain competitors, it remains a worthwhile accessory to consider.
Battery Life:
Equipped with an 8,840mAh battery, the Xiaomi Pad 6 delivers exceptional battery life comparable to that of an iPad. Users can expect an impressive 5-6 days of usage with 2-3 hours of daily streaming. The tablet supports 33W fast charging, and the included charger can fully recharge the device in under one and a half hours.
Price:
In Singapore, the Xiaomi Pad 6 is available starting from SGD 529 for the 8GB + 256GB variant.
Final Verdict:
Xiaomi has solidified its position as a reliable brand offering affordable Android tablets, and the Xiaomi Pad 6 builds upon the success of its predecessor. While the Snapdragon 870 chipset may not provide top-tier performance, it more than meets the requirements for light usage. The tablet excels in areas such as display quality, speaker performance, and battery life, positioning it as an exceptional entertainment device for travel. If you seek a budget-friendly Android tablet that doesn’t compromise on essential features, the Xiaomi Pad 6 is undoubtedly the go-to choice.
NETWORK
Technology
No cellular connectivity
2G bands N/A
3G bands N/A
GPRS N/A
EDGE N/A
BODY
Dimensions 254 x 165.2 x 6.5 mm (10.0 x 6.50 x 0.26 in)
Weight 490 g (1.08 lb)
Build Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, aluminum back
SIM No
Stylus support (magnetic)
DISPLAY
Type IPS LCD, 1B colors, 144Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 550 nits
Size 11.0 inches, 350.9 cm2 (~83.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution 1800 x 2880 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~309 ppi density)
Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 3
PLATFORM
OS Android 13, MIUI 14
Chipset Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm)
CPU Octa-core (1×3.2 GHz Kryo 585 & 3×2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4×1.80 GHz Kryo 585)
GPU Adreno 650
MEMORY
Card slot No
Internal 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
UFS 3.1
MAIN CAMERA
Single 13 MP, f/2.2, PDAF
Features Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Video 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
SELFIE CAMERA
Single 8 MP, f/2.2, 1/4″, 1.12µm
Video 1080p@30fps
SOUND
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakers (4 speakers)
3.5mm jack No
24-bit/192kHz audio
COMMS
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/a/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Bluetooth 5.2, A2DP, LE
Positioning Unspecified
NFC No
Radio No
USB USB Type-C 3.2, accessory connector
FEATURES
Sensors Accelerometer, gyro, proximity (accessories only)
BATTERY
Type Li-Po 8840 mAh, non-removable
Charging 33W wired, PD3.0, QC4
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
